A few hours ago my brother called me and told me that my dad's condition had turned horribly for the worst. He has cancer and other conditions and he's on a ventilator and in a drug induced coma until tomorrow when they pull the plug at his request.

I'm deeply saddened and I've turned to local and chat friends for support. This has helped a great deal. So has the vodka.

The man is only 64 years old, this is horrible. We were not that close and there was a lot of conflict over the years, but it all seems to melt away now.

The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; the motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted. - W. Shakespeare

A thing I learned about situations like this: be there! Is it possible to be at his side and with those who are there too? It helps a lot to 'give it a place in your emotions'. It is much better than staying at home...

Les, I am truly sorry to hear this. My thoughts will be with you in the hard times ahead. Take care._________________Where there are too many policemen, there is no liberty. Where there are too many soldiers, there is no peace. Where there are too many lawyers, there is no justice.
Lin Yutang (1895-1976)

Pain, I've known pain. This is not so much pain as it is bittersweet sadness. Bitter because his life is cut short, but sweet because I know he's going to a better place that he deserves.

I don't know, I'm trying to form words but it not easy. He had three wives, five kids, and a history of both success and failure in business. I'm named after him and I seem to have unwittingly followed his path.

I have a lot more to say about him but I'll stop. Thanks for all your thoughts and concerns.

I'm really sorry to hear that Les.
My Dad passed away in a similar way about 12 years ago.
He needed sudden bypass surgery which went wrong. I told him I loved him over the phone before the operation, but two days later when I got there, he was brain dead. We turned off the machines the next day.

If you can't be there, try to organise a ritual of some kind to say goodbye. The sense of finality is an important part of the grieving process. Write him a letter. Have loved ones close by. Play him a piece of music to guide him on his way. Remember, and talk of, the happy times you shared. When all is said and done, his life was a beautiful thing.
Celebrate it._________________What makes a space ours, is what we put there, and what we do there.

Amen bro. We're going to have a weekend jam of some sort this afternoon (US time), evening (Europe time). Not sure about Aussie time. I'll play guitar and as usual Jan will host. Nothing too sentimental, just friends celebrating his life.

I heard from my brother. My dad dies in just over an hour. They say the last sense to go is your hearing, so us kids are all going to call and speak to him via cell phone. The only thing I want to say is our last words together which were "I love you", and that's the last thing that I want to hear when it's my time.

Sad news. My father died a couple of years ago. My thoughts are with you._________________A Charity Pantomime in aid of Paranoid Schizophrenics descended into chaos yesterday when someone shouted, "He's behind you!"

Things were delayed. They'll pull the plug in 3.5 hours, at 5:30 EST, which is 2:30 his time representing Psalm 23 for significance. I'll be playing guitar to escort him on his way, maybe he'll hear it somehow...

The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; the motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted. - W. Shakespeare

Ty folks. sizone, my brother told me that my dad put his affairs in order. Also I have a will in which I specify that I'd like them to do everything possible to keep me alive. i'm questioning that. My dad went out in the same way he lived his life, with strength and dignity. He chose to be taken off of the life support to receive his reward in Heaven. He's there now.

We are blessed in our family because now we have a spiritual warrior, and a very intelligent and wise one at that, on our side. I can only imagine that by now he's met up with our other deceased family members who watch us and care for us.

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum

Please support our site. If you click through and buy from our affiliate partners, we earn a small commission.